The Evelyn Rutnam Institute is a nonprofit organization located in Thirunelveli, Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka,[1] whose primary objective is to facilitate inter-cultural relations and to encourage the studies of past and present cultures.

[2] James T. Rutnam had a huge collection of books and research articles received from university donations, researchers, leading legal figures, and businessmen.

Learned persons visited him for consultation and made use of his library.

[4] This collection was later donated to Jaffna College in Vaddukoddai, and was established as an institution to store and maintain the books and documents for research purposes.

[4] The institution was named the "Evelyn Rutnam Institute" in memory of James Rutnam's wife[5] and remains under the care and control of American Missionaries as a testimony to James Rutnam's love of research and learning, and as an encouragement to education.